It's Like "Groundhog Day"!

No joke. Almost everyday has been Condition II on station meaning, "Condition II: Winds 48 to 55 knots, wind chill - 75 to -100 degrees F, or visibility 100 feet to 1/ 4th mile. Restricted pedestrian traffic only between buildings is allowed. Vehicular travel is allowed in radio equipped, enclosed vehicles only, and check out is required." It also means that no one should or would want to go hiking, skiing, etc. because the weather is terrible. It also means no flights. No flights means no mail. No mail means I have to go to the store to buy shampoo and conditioner because I mailed a lot of those items to myself because I was concerned about my luggage weight.

But it could be worse. It could be Condition 1 in town. It should have been called that a few times but I've been told that Station Management does not like to do that because then no one would be able to work. So my boss likes to call it Condition 1.5 when it really should be Condition 1. Here is the definition of "Condition I: Winds over 55 knots, wind chill lower than -100 degrees F, or visibility less than 100 feet. Severe weather is in progress. All personnel must remain in buildings or the nearest shelter." It is Condition 1 everywhere else - Scott Base (which is 3k's away), the Road to Scott Base, Pegasus Airfield, Williams Field Skiway, T-Site, Arrival Heights (It's a "science" area, I think it's some secret squirrel military place!) and LDB (where they launch the Long Duration Balloons). So really, nothing is going on here - no flights and no science. I'm at work so at least I've got somewhere and something, albeit scarce, to do.

Enjoy the "Con 1.5" photos!

 

It's a Blustery Day for Football!

I am on Day 2 of my 3 day weekend. It is Monday so it must be football! Yes, Monday because we are a day ahead of everyone in CONUS (Continental United States). All night last night I heard the wind blowing hard and whistling thru my window. It is not really cold, it is currently -2 with the wind chill at -26 degrees. That wind is brutal! I broke out my Big Red today. Here are some pictures from today:

I watched the Cardinals/Broncos game and was really disappointed. But it was still great to watch football! And what made it even better was that it was a game that didn't have the Cowboys in it! Now I'm getting ready to watch Sunday Night Football.

And if football isn't enough to make it a fantastic day, we had McRibs for lunch!! YAY!!

I'm Settling In

I am finally settling in to the "Routine" that is McMurdo Station. I am working my first shift at the Firehouse and yes, it's Graves! I will be on this shift for a few weeks and then go to days for a few weeks and then finish my time on the ice back on Graves. My flight down on the C-17 was great! That plane is one amazing machine!

Everything here on station is pretty much the same as when I left it almost 18 months ago. We got 6 inches of snow the other day and now it it cold - it is currently -2 degrees and a wind-chill of -22. I actually wore my Big Red for the first time since arriving on the ice. Here are some pictures from my flight and my first few days here.

 On board the C-17

                                          Our C-17 on the Pegasus White Ice Runway

                                         A view of the Coffee House after the snow storm!